Padua Franciscan High School set a new school record collecting $41,041 in cash, in addition to thousands of donations for families and charities in need. Throughout the month of December, our students, faculty, staff and alumni participated in our 52nd annual Christmas For Others charity drive. CFO is a program designed to make the holidays brighter for the less fortunate. It is the largest student-run fundraiser in Northeast Ohio.
We distributed the money and goods during our CFO Liturgy on Wednesday, December 20th. Non-profits, inner-city schools, local food pantries, animal shelters and many others received their donations.
Our students raised funds in a number of ways. The most exciting was our Coin Wars competition. This year, in 20 minutes, we collected over $9,585 cash for local charities and families in need. Students collected canned goods for local food pantries. Our Italian Club hosted a Spaghetti Dinner. Spanish Club sold nachos. Art Club sold handmade jewelry. We had a student vs. faculty volleyball game, where $1 admission went to a good cause. We also had a blood drive, where students and faculty helped save 93 lives. Our main lobby was full of large bins to collect thousands of toys, books, coats, mittens, hats, scarves, socks, blankets and food.
“As we celebrate our 52nd year of Christmas For Others, I am so very proud of our Padua Franciscan community for its continued dedication to giving back to those in need,” said President Dave Stec. “Through the fun and competitions of CFO, our students learn that their sacrifice and donations make a real difference for those less fortunate. CFO transforms Padua students to be lifelong givers, knowing their generosity, even in small ways, changes our world.”
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